How exactly do they clear the parks out after closing?

[DisneyRN]

This was one of my other random questions that formulated while on our trip 2 weeks ago...

I watched the "sweep" to get "illegal" guests out for MNSSHP, but how do they make sure everyone is out at closing? There are so many bathrooms and places to hide. It seems rather easy to do, if one put their mind to it...

[Scar]

I don't know, but once after Illuminations I wanted to wait until the crowd was gone before I left so I sat on a bench near Morocco for a long time. I then decided to see how long I could sit there until someone said something. It was around 11:00 and maintanence was starting to do their thing and no one even looked at me. I finally gave up and left.

[JPL]

Cast Members & security sweep through the park starting from the back working their way to front of the park. The park also usually closes in phases as well so some areas close before others but it is done in a way that guests don't really notice.

[WDWdriver]

Cast Members & security sweep through the park starting from the back working their way to front of the park. The park also usually closes in phases as well so some areas close before others but it is done in a way that guests don't really notice.

Right. Also, bathrooms and any secluded areas are checked as the sweep moves toward the front of the park.

[Main Street Jim]

In the thread about Cast Members' closing (the Merchandise CMs), I mentioned how Attractions CM's closed and cleared out the rides. The CM at the front of the attraction (usually called a "greeter") follows the last guest through the queue, and gets into the ride vehicle behind that last guest (some attractions are a little different - like Speedway, where the CM's can *see* the entire ride track). Once that last guest is off of the ride, and the last CM is off, then the ride vehicles are stored (if needed) and the attraction shut down. Usually the managers and coordinators (or Security and Custodial) will go through the restrooms and make sure they're empty.

CM's never "run anyone out of the park". For hard-ticket events, like the Parties, the CM's will keep an eye out for those without wristbands. Those guests are not permitted on the rides or to watch parades, etc. unless they have that wristband.

For EMH nights, the greeters are supposed to be checking for the resort ID's. If they don't have an ID, no ride

[big blue and hairy]

Ummmm...mickey ear cattle prods??

[Mogie]

I read a blog online by a former cast member who said that a kid got left behind on Tom Sawyer Island once after the last boat. Im guessing this probably happens frequently.

I would imagine that Disney has uber-surveillance cameras and motion sensors to alert security. Just think of the millions of dollars of damage a crazy person could do to an attraction. But I guess the parks are never empty as there are crews that work on the attractions and parks in the middle of the night. I bet it would be very difficult to hide anywhere.

[Goofy4TheWorld]

I would imagine that Disney has uber-surveillance cameras and motion sensors to alert security.

Pure speculation on my part, but I bet you would be surprised at the near-complete lack of security cameras and/or sensors at Disney.

There will be plenty of people who swear that they operate like the CIA, but I think their primary (and secondary) mode of security is simple man-power.

[Main Street Jim]

I read a blog online by a former cast member who said that a kid got left behind on Tom Sawyer Island once after the last boat. I'm guessing this probably happens frequently.

I would imagine that Disney has uber-surveillance cameras and motion sensors to alert security. Just think of the millions of dollars of damage a crazy person could do to an attraction. But I guess the parks are never empty as there are crews that work on the attractions and parks in the middle of the night. I bet it would be very difficult to hide anywhere.

The Tom Sawyer Island "story"? I wouldn't believe it. It was (once upon a time) my job to clear off the island. Only way he would've been left is if he went outside the back gate of the fort on the north island - which is usually locked unless Maintenance needs to get to the burning cabin or the animatronics on the river. *However*....if you ever get a chance...read "Mouse Tales", "More Mouse Tales", and "Realityland".

I got see the MK security cameras in action - once - while uhh, "visiting" the Security office. It's like CSI or Hawai'i 5-O. Hundreds of cameras *everywhere*, a large screen to pull up any camera anywhere in the park.

I bet you would be surprised at the near-complete lack of security cameras and/or sensors at Disney.

Yeah...there's a "complete lack" of cameras...

Like I said, when the attractions close, it is the CM's duties to go through the ride(s) and *make sure* everyone's out. They follow the last guest(s) through, so it's very tough to hide in the attractions. Same with the bathrooms, restaurants, and stores, and everywhere else.

Don't even *think* about trying it...LOLOL

[Buttercup]

Yeah, I'm positive there are plenty of hidden cameras everywhere. Not only on the rides (think of how often on dark rides a mysterious voice comes out of nowhere and tells people no flash photography, etc.)... but out on the "streets" of the parks as well.
There was once an incident where someone said a guy in a Tigger costume inappropriately touched a guest, and Disney was able to easily whip out a couple different views of that area to prove nothing bad happened.
Big brother is definitely watching at WDW!

[Goofy4TheWorld]

First and most important, I am doing arm-chair consulting work here which isn't worth a penny. It is a discussion board and I am just babbling my two cents. Everything I post here is just me piecing together what's out there on the web, mostly out of boredom.

"Comlete lack" was meant to be a term used relative to the expectation that cameras are totally encompassing you at every turn.

I have no doubt there are plenty of cameras at WDW, even thousands of them, especially in ride areas where attraction cars need monitored for safety or for troublemakers standing up on Splash or taking pictures on dark rides. I just don't think they have the Big Brother coverage with video surveillance that many people assume they do. Disney is Big Brother in lots of ways when using your tickets and KTTK cards, but I just don't think they have Vegas-level video surveillance protection.

A room full of hundreds of cameras at MK would be about enough to cover the Emporium. The Bellagio has 1,800 cameras covering 116,000 square feet of casino. Magic Kingdom is 4,660,920 square feet not counting the Utilidors. The MK alone would need 72,000 cameras to get that kind of coverage. Sure, it's ridiculous to even pretend there is a need for cameras at MK so great that they can literally spot someone with something up their sleeve, but if MK has 10% of the coverage that casinos have they would still need 7,200 cameras.

More pure speculation based on information from the web...

I should be ashamed how much time I spent this afternoon poking around Goggle, but I couldn't find a single instance where Disney has ever released, or even just had mentioned, video surveillance. There have been fatalities of guests and CMs, claims of assault from both characters and guests, claims of abductions from Disney property, more lawsuits than anyone can count, and yet never once can Google find anything mentioning Disney video surveillance. Buttercup I am still trying to find mention of your Tigger case because I genuinely would like to know more as more of a "curiosity hobby" of mine. Even though Google comes up dry, I am sure Disney has probably had some instances where cameras were useful, but if they were really Big Brother with them I think they would be mentioned in every other article about something bad that has happened at WDW, but there just isn't much out there on the web.

So going back to the OP, I think you will get caught, but probably by someone finding you in person rather than a camera spotting you.

[Butters]

The Tom Sawyer Island "story"? I wouldn't believe it.

This was an actual incident in DL, two brothers stayed on the island past closing one could not swim, and while crossing the river, the one who could swim drown while trying to help.

This can be verified on snopes and wikipedia

[Victor Kelly]

Ummmm...mickey ear cattle prods??

You beat me to it.

How about tasers that make you laugh like Mickey?